I live very close to Weimar, CA, and I can hike down to the crossroads, but I never know when a train is going to go by, and the last couple of times I’ve been disapointed. Is there a way to check when trains are going to be going through certain areas?
you can pick up a scanner (several hand held models can be purchased for $100-$200) and a google search can find the correct frequency.
There’s also serveral groups on yahoo (groups.yahoo.com) whose members track the progress of trains along the line the group focuses on, and many provide a list of trains that regularly use the specific line
Where can I get a scanner in Canada? Radio Shack doesn’t sell them anymore, and I don’t know where elso to look.
Mattthew
Are you even allowed to have a Scanner Radio in Canada?
Allan.
I don’t think scanners in Canada are a problem… Unless something has changed.
Here’s some online dealers:
http://www.scannerworld.com/
http://www.scannersunlimited.com/
The Uniden BC72XLT is a good basic scanner.
Dave
-DPD Productions - Featuring the TrainTenna LP Gain RR Scanner Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/
[(-D] Listen for the train horm? (sorry, I couldn’t resist, must be the drugs from this mornings surgery)
One thing you may want to buy is the California Region Timetable by Altamont Press. They list all of the rail lines for each railroad in California along with frequencies (road, PBX, yard and others). There website is http://altamontpress.com and search the site. They also have railfan timetables for Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Neveda, Utah, the Southwest and I believe a couple others thru out the Western United States.
They will also tell you the dispatcher assigned to the line.
If you buy a scanner you can listen to the road channel 160.320 and you will be able to hear the detectors. I see on my timetabe Weimar is at milepost 137.6 (if I have the right place). There is a detector at mp 148.8 on the #1 track (westbound) and 130.6 on the #2 track (eastbound). That should be pleanty of warning for you in both directions.
Between a scanner (<$100) and the timetable SPcaboose mentioned from Altimont press ($20) You can keep pretty good tabs on what’s going on.[;)]